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Australia hails UN arms trade treaty

Paul Osborne, AAP Senior Political Writer

Australia has won a seven-year diplomatic battle to secure the passage of an arms trade treaty through the United Nations General Assembly.

However a battle still remains to get 50 countries to ratify it.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said the treaty would impose new controls on illicit cross-border dealings in weapons such as attack helicopters, missile launchers, automatic rifles, hand guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

The treaty sets up a global reporting system for international arms sales, to prevent the flow of weapons to rogue states and terror groups but does not affect domestic arms sales.

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Australia was one of the seven original authors who sponsored the first UN General Assembly resolution in 2006 and Australia's UN ambassador Peter Woolcott presided over the Arms Trade Treaty conference.

Speaking from Jakarta, Senator Carr said Australia would now focus its efforts on securing the 50 ratifications necessary to bring the treaty into force worldwide.

"Australia's message is that it's time for action on global arms control," Senator Carr said in a statement.

Australia will be one of the first countries to sign the treaty in June and provide $1 million to help developing countries implement it through new laws and controlling exports.

The treaty was supported by 154 states but opposed by North Korea, Syria and Iran.

Among the 23 abstentions were two of the leading weapons sellers, Russia and China.